Saving/Backing Up Text Messages?

[Huskies2]

I have a Sony Xperia Z3 Compact. I keep reading that it is possible to sync your phone to the computer to save information from it, but I specifically want to know about saving or backing up text messages. Xperia Companion mentions it. It also appears in my Backup and Reset (in Settings) under Automatic Backup as "conversations." But everyone tells me you can't back up text messages. So, is there a way to do this or not? My phone appears to be going downhill very quickly-- both internally and externally-- after just a few short months. I need to know how to save as much as I can before it crashes on me. 

[Jonas]

Hi @Huskies2, welcome to our forum and I'm sorry to hear about your phone.

You can backup text messages using Xperia Companion and/or the inbuilt backup and restore feature in your phone. In the phone you can create a backup to a SD card, online account or to a USB stick and Xperia Companion will create the backup on your computer.

If you have very important text messages, you can always take a few screenshots of the conversation, simply press and hold the power button on your phone and tap on "Take screenshot" and this will be saved as an image in the phone.

There is also a function that you can use in a conversation and that is to hold down on a certain text in a conversation and choose to copy the text. This will however only copy that specific text and not the entire conversation. When you have copied the text you can use an application, such as Google Keep or any notes application of your liking and paste the text into a document.

I hope that answers your question!

[Huskies2]

I installed (and reinstalled) Xperia Companion on my Windows PC, and this error message appears every time in Backup. What is wrong, and what do I do?error message

[Huskies2]

Also, because it keeps overheating, it's melting the phone and causing the front screen and back panel to separate from the phone. How do I repair that? 

[Jonas]

Hi again!

I have a hard time seeing the exact error message on the screenshot. However if this occurs directly when you tap on "Backup", try restarting the device and your computer and try creating a new backup. You can also reboot your phone in safe mode and see if that helps!

Regarding the question about the display and the back cover being loose, I would recommend that you get in touch with your Local support team so they can arrange a repair for you.

Keep me posted!

[Huskies2]

The screen on the PC shows this error message:

Something went wrong with backup or restore. Please try again later. Contact Sony support if the error persists.

So I did-- contact support. The problem persists.

As I stated, I installed (and reinstalled) Xperia Companion on my Windows PC, and this error message appears every time in Backup on the PC.

What does rebooting the phone the phone in safe mode do? What are the restrictions?

Who/Where is my "Local support team?"

[Huskies2]

I tried rebooting my phone in safe mode, but the problem is that once the phone restarts, it goes back to regular mode. When the problems started with the phone, just six weeks after I began using it, the phone would run hot and the battery would drain instantly and the phone would continue to restart over and over on its own. All the same issues are still happening, that's why safe mode doesn't work, because the phone just restarts again.

[Jonas]

Hi again!

Rebooting the phone in safe mode disabled all downloaded applications temporarily until you reboot the phone as normal again, then they will be loaded again.

So the steps will be.

1. Reboot the phone in safe mode when connected/disconnected from the computer.

2. Connect your phone to your computer if it was disconnected.

3. Choose the MTP mode when connecting the phone to the computer (small pop up window on the phone).
4. Press on "Backup" in the Xperia Companion program while the phone is rebooted in safe mode.

I don't know exactly where your Local support team is located, however they are the ones responsible for your market/region and will be able to provide more detailed information regarding service since routines, warranty and so forth may vary between markets/regions.

Since the phone is rebooting over and over and you can't actually stay in safe mode, try removing your SIM and/or SD card from the phone and see if these restarts continue to occur.

[Huskies2]

I have purchased a new phone-- not Sony. The help responses took too long between questions and the suggestions were not well-explained enough and did not work. I did try to backup the Xperia on the computer, but it disconnected part way through. What was saved I tried to restore onto my new phone, but I don't think that transferred correctly.

The problem with the phone was the battery. It physically swelled to the point the back of the phone pushed off. I don't know why it malfunctioned the way it did, but it appears that all the downhill issues with the phone-- battery life span, constant running and overheating, rebooting over and over, and ultimately a software deterioration-- were due to that reason.